Christmas 2012

Christmas Vodka, looked super festive from day dot

 

Christmas this year seemed to appear from no where. I started to panic when I realised I had very little time to make the gifts that I wanted to give folks but I am happy with what I finally produced.

I first started knitting these gloves for my friend Gemma

 as she had said how much she had liked mine the year before

Then I found a recipe for a Spiced Aarancello (Christmas Spiced Vodka) from BBC Good Food App and thought that it would make a nice gift for some of my friends

- My flatmate makes amazing fruit liquors so it was nice to try my hand at something similar

 

As I mentioned back in October, I got a kindle pattern from a craft fair during Wool Week and was keen to make one for my Mam, Ii am really chuffed with the colours etc.

although it is a little on the large side

After the success of last years Christmas Jam I thought I would try my hand at my own recipe, Mulled Pear Jam, I liked how subtle all the flavours were although I would maybe put a little less

 sugar in it next time as it was super sweet.

I know that some people make/sell Christmas Pudding Hats but I thought I would try my own version. My own pattern so, again, proud of the outcome (would also make awesome tea cosies) can't wait to see pictures of the boys in them.

Ii also followed a Kate Davis pattern and knitted this hat for my Dad, thinking to make a girlie one for myself, once I have tackled the socks and jumper.

 

I really recommend homemade gifts, I got one this year (Blackberry Gin from Lynn) and I really appreciated that she has put time and effort into a gift that was for me.

 

Happy Holiday xxx

Shetland Rainbow Tam

 

I had never thought about making a tam until my sister sent me a link to a picture of this tam about a year ago, and I thought it was very bonnie but I didn't think I had the skills to do something so tricky.

Well a couple weekends ago I was home for a flying visit and decided to buy the pattern as it was now in my head and I kinda wanted to try it and see what it would be like.

The only tricky parts were casting on and keeping count (there were 144st) and a few of the new notations, which I got my mam to help with turns out they are straight forward.

Once I started the fair isle I had a little panic as I wasn't sure about putting the blue in the pattern (in future I plan to re-sketch patterns with coloured pens and 1/2 cm square paper) but I was encouraged that it looked good so continued.

 

The pattern is very obvious when you knit it so you don't feel like you have to keep checking the pattern ... Although on the long rounds I do sound a little like rain man.

 

It took me just over a week to complete but I am on holiday so have some spare time to do this.

 

I plan to make more of these in the future as they are so pretty but I better get started on Christmas presents ASAP .... Super exciting!!!

First Couple of Days of the October Holidays ...

Some of the Aamos Designs new styles & colours

 

I am lucky that I came home to Shetland joost in time to catch the end of wool week, I accompanied Emma & Aamos Designs to the a Makers Market at the Town Hall and we had a great time meeting other crafters and people who have travelled far and wide to see what Shetland has to offer.

Emma getting annoyed at my tension

 

The thing I enjoy the most though was spending the day with my sister, her crocheting and me starting to knit my tam & finishing off the squirrel gloves.

Squirrel glove no.2 the ribbed wrist part feels like it takes ages

but once da fairisle starts you are flying

 

Emma's Granny Squares, by the evening she had joined 5 or 6 of them with a purple,

 it looks amazing may have to commission a peice from her.

 

Emma has a couple of new pieces since I wis last along the studios and they are gorgeous... I am a little biased though.

Aamos Designs Overshot Scarf she is going to make blankets like this

I didn't buy much besides coffee and a cupcake but I did get a new pattern by Outi Kater (same lady who made the tam pattern) for Christmas presents but I'm keeping dat one a secret for now.

On sunday I was feeling a little out of sorts but I did manage to finish the

ribbing on my tam, I'm liking the colours so far